Preparations are well underway by librarians, classroom teachers, homeschool networks, daycare providers and more to incorporate exemplary STEM programs during the upcoming academic year. From coding and drones to mathematics literacy and aquaponics, educators are gathering in communities across Iowa for trainings on one of the thirteen programs available on the 2023-2024 STEM Scale-Up Program menu.
Nearly 20 teachers gathered at the West Union Community Library for TeacherGeek STEM Cart training.
“We will use the STEM Cart to meet a diverse set of needs,” said Shanna Putnam-Dibble, teacher at John Cline Elementary in Decorah. “We want to celebrate when kids hit their personal goals and take it beyond classroom lessons and bring joy into learning.”
“Kids need hands-on learning experiences where they have the freedom to work at their own pace,” said Kari O’Hara, teacher at John Cline Elementary. “Everyone learns in a different way. This program fosters student ownership in learning, collaboration, teamwork and problem-solving.”
Dozens of additional Scale-Up Program trainings will take place in the six STEM regions in Iowa for a total of 1,383 educators over the coming weeks. Educators who teach Scale-Up Programs express more confidence in teaching STEM topics and an increase in STEM knowledge. Students who participate in Scale-Up Programming consistently outperform their peers in standardized tests and indicate more interest in a STEM career.
To learn more about the STEM Scale-Up Program, visit IowaSTEM.org/scale-up.